This is a breakdown of ABC scripted shows and their renewal and cancellation prospects. For the main post containing unscripted shows click here. For the Renew/Cancel Indexes for the other networks click these links:

With the announcement recently that Ugly Betty was being removed from the schedule amid the introduction of many new shows to the ABC spring line up, its fanbase was caught up in a wave of dispair. Could it be getting cancelled? Not necessarily.

While commenters often moan that all I bring in these posts are a tide of woe for their favorite shows, Ugly Betty's fate seems far from decided. So far this season it has been right on "the bubble" in terms of being renewed or cancelled for next season, and I think it still is. Its future hinges on the performance of the new shows about to be introduced this spring by ABC. If enough of the new shows do well, it's bye, bye Betty. But if they do poorly, Betty will be welcomed back with open arms.

So, the message to Ugly Betty fans out there is Hope All the New ABC Shows Tank!

While the Renew / Cancel index is most geared toward predicting potential renewal for *next* season, my color coding of the shows are guesses on what might happen this season: Cancelled/Not Returning, Not Likely To Be Renewed, orRenewal Likely for 2009-10.

PROGRAM

Net

STD 18-49 (LIVE+SD) (000)

Network Avg. STD 18-49

Renew/ Cancel index

Status

ACCORDING TO JIM-TU 9:30P

ABC

2,183

3,560

0.61

final season

ELI STONE

ABC

2,264

3,560

0.64

cancelled

PUSHING DAISIES

ABC

2,365

3,560

0.66

cancelled

ACCORDING TO JIM-TU 9PM

ABC

2,460

3,560

0.69

final season

DIRTY SEXY MONEY

ABC

2,549

3,560

0.72

cancelled

BOSTON LEGAL

ABC

2,856

3,560

0.80

finished

UGLY BETTY

ABC

3,251

3,560

0.91

SCRUBS-TU 9PM

ABC

3,445

3,560

0.97

final season

SCRUBS-TU 9:30PM

ABC

3,530

3,560

0.99

final season

SAMANTHA WHO?

ABC

3,589

3,560

1.01

LIFE ON MARS

ABC

3,626

3,560

1.02

PRIVATE PRACTICE

ABC

3,741

3,560

1.05

BROTHERS & SISTERS

ABC

4,680

3,560

1.31

LOST

ABC

6,626

3,560

1.86

GREY'S ANATOMY

ABC

7,170

3,560

2.01

DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES

ABC

7,620

3,560

2.14

-

(1) After 8 seasons, and recent horrible ratings, but presumably great sydication profits, ABC's According to Jim looks like its prime-time run is coming to an end this season as one of the stars says the stage has been bulldozed. That seems pretty final to me.

Remember that plenty can change before the end of the season, particularly for the shows with indexes between 0.80 and last season’s renewal line of 0.92. The list is presented in a (and has to be, since I cannot predict future ratings) “what would happen if the season ended today” mode. Could the renewal line be 0.86 this season? Possibly. It might also be 0.95. Might it be 0.70? No chance.